THE police in Negros Occidental pushed for the creation of a crisis management committee among the localities to thwart possible terror incidents in the province.
Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., officer-in-charge of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said Monday, June 5, that he directed the chiefs of police to coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) for the activation of a crisis management committee which will be headed by the mayor.
The proposal came in the wake of attacks of Maute group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao for 60 days.
Castil said that LGUs should establish their respective crisis management bodies to be ready.
“We have to organize and not wait for the incident to happen,” he said, adding that it should be prioritized by the local chief executives.
Castil noted that LGUs also have in place disaster councils to have swift action whenever disasters strike.
With the terror threat, it’s imperative to organize a body whose sole focus is to address this, he added.
Tightened security
Castil said the provincial police has tightened security measures especially in ports and terminals following the intelligence report that seven vehicles which was allegedly rigged with explosives from Mindanao will try to pass through Visayas to reach Manila.
He said they are closely coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard and with their counterparts in other provinces.
Moreover, Castil directed his men to coordinate with the barangay officials especially if there are new faces in their areas.
“We have to strictly profile them to find out why they are visiting,” he said.
‘Don’t panic’
Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, head of Coast Guard Station-Bacolod, said they are aware that a memorandum about the vehicles watchlist released by the Regional Maritime Unit in Zamboanga Peninsula is now circulating online, which had caused alarm among residents in Negros Island Region.
He called on the public not to panic, and instead help the security forces in locating the said vehicles.
According to the report, the seven vehicles that allegedly have improvised explosive devices (IED) are black Toyota Hilux (with plate number TO 4823), white Nissan Sentra (UER 452), black Toyota Land Cruiser (VIM 889), black Honda Civic (KDY 462), grey Toyota Vios (ZBM 340), black Isuzu DMax (PIJ 139), and black Toyota Innova (ZDT 395).
He said that authorities have stepped up their security efforts to stop the threat from reaching Visayas and Luzon.
Vingno said the terror group is eyeing to transport the rigged vehicles through roll-on, roll-off vessel from Mindanao to Visayas to Luzon, adding that they might target sea vessels plying to Negros Island Region.
Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office, reiterated his call to the public to be wary about their posts online as it could trigger panic and fear.
‘Stay vigilant’
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. also urged the public to remain vigilant and report to the authorities the presence of suspicious people and activities.
He said that authorities should intensify security measures and monitoring of the entry points in the province.
Moreover, the governor said the Provincial Government will welcome Marawi residents who will seek refuge in the province.
However, there should be thorough background checks to ensure that the evacuees are not disguising as terrorists, he added.